Warrant says family detained home invasion suspect

Members of an Oakdale family held a masked intruder at gunpoint until police arrived to a reported home invasion earlier this month, according to court documents.

Zachary Spurgas, 23, of Bozrah, and a 16-year-old boy had gone to 77 Lake Drive to rob 21-year-old Logan Marsh of Opanas, a potent opiate pain medication, according to an arrest warrant affidavit prepared by state police Detective Dean A. Peluso.

Spurgas wore a ski mask and the juvenile wore a bandana over his face and carried a handgun, according to the affidavit. The masked men confronted Marsh in his bedroom at about 1:20 a.m. When Marsh told them he didn't have any drugs, the juvenile struck him in the head with the gun and told him to "stop lying," as Spurgas went through Marsh's possessions, according to the affidavit.

Marsh's father, James Marsh, told police he woke up to hear voices in his son's room. He said he watched the bedroom door to see who emerged and confronted the masked man who came out. He said he called for his son, who told him two people were attempting to rob him, including one with a gun. Marsh said he followed the man — later identified as Spurgas — into the garage and asked him, "Who are you?" and "What are you doing in my house with a mask on?"

James Marsh said Spurgas attempted to run, and a fight ensued during which Spurgas struck him in the face. Marsh said he hit Spurgas with an electric sander and held him down as his wife, Patrice Marsh, called police and retrieved her handgun. Marsh said he got his shotgun and checked the home for the other intruder, then waited with Spurgas until state police arrived.

The juvenile intruder, who had fled the house and ran into the woods, was arrested on Tuesday. Spurgas initially identified his co-defendant as 19-year-old Alex Drozynski of Oakdale, then admitted that he had lied, according to state police. Drozynski was charged with home invasion, but a Norwich judge dismissed the charge on Thursday.

Spurgas was admitted to the hospital with a fractured skull following the incident. He told state police that his co-defendant had pistol-whipped him in the back of the head when he said he didn't want to drive him to the Marsh home. He is being held in lieu of $150,000 on charges of home invasion, attempted first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and attempted first-degree larceny. His case has been transferred to the New London court where major crimes are tried and continued to April 29.

The 16-year-old is being held at the Hartford Juvenile Detention Center on charges of home invasion, criminal attempt to commit first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, criminal attempt to commit fourth-degree larceny, criminal use of a firearm and first-degree threatening.

He was initially arraigned in juvenile court due to his age, but the case is expected to be transferred to adult court due to the seriousness of the charges.